Fraudster convicted again

A convicted fraudster who was jailed for more than two years after pretending to be a doctor for nine years at a PCT has pleaded guilty after being caught trying to commit a similar crime again.

Conrad de Souza pleaded guilty on Monday to six out of nine counts of fraud at Croydon Crown Court. The three other counts will lie on file.

He was caught by the same NHS Protect investigators who brought him to justice in 2011. That year he was jailed for 27 months after lying that he was a qualified doctor to Lewisham PCT, where he earned £329,000 working in clinical strategy between 2001 and 2010.

Mr de Souza, aged 57, of Brompton Park Crescent, Fulham, London, is due to be sentenced for his latest offences on 12 January.

Richard Rippin, head of operations for NHS Protect, said: “Had he succeeded in his latest, deceitful job hunt, Mr de Souza would have regained considerable power, responsibility and financial reward – a frightening prospect.”